Swindon seamer Kidd is happy to play whatever role’s required of him this summer

MATT Kidd will not be asking for a place higher in the Swindon batting order any time soon, despite his heroics in last weekend’s victory over Tewkesbury.

The former Budleigh Salterton and Devon bowler, who claimed 3-44 with the ball as Swindon dismissed their hosts for 155, then clubbed an unbeaten 42 from 48 balls, with three fours and a six, as the Glos/Wilts Division promotion-chasers edged home by a single wicket.

Given that display, you might have thought Kidd would be gagging for a spot in the middle order but he’s more than happy to bat where required for his new club.

He told the Advertiser: “Wherever I’m needed I’ll accept to be playing. I don’t know about proving myself, the team is most important. Whatever the team needs I’ll happily fit into that slot.

“Whether that’s staying at nine and helping out down the order or going for a few runs quicker, that’s what I’d need to do. I’m quite happy at the moment.”

Having made the switch to the County Ground over the winter, Kidd has got straight into his stride in 2014, spearheading the Swindon bowling attack. He says that he’s settled into life in Wiltshire with no problem at all.

“I love playing with them,” he said. “They’re obviously a really good bunch of lads, they enjoy winning and obviously that’s what I like to do, too.

“Everyone’s been really welcoming, not just the players but the whole club set-up.”

Swindon currently sit third in the league table, with just Rockhampton and Lechlade ahead of them. With the top two playing each other tomorrow, Kidd & Co have the chance to steal ground on their rivals and potentially leap into top spot with a big victory over Chippenham.

Kidd himself admitted promotion has to be high on both the club’s and his own list of ambitions this term, saying: “We have to aim high and say promotion, however the top three is always a good go. I think for me it would definitely be promotion but that’s not having seen many teams in the league so far. We’ve got good players who can win and if we carry on this streak you never know what might happen.

“In terms of the Devon league it’s probably similar - you’ve got some really, really good players and then some club level players. It seems to be a really good standard so far, we’ve had some quite close games.”